ALF ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETS

VCAL FOCUS

The Department of Social Services (DSS) Assisted Living Facility (ALF) Advisory Committee met in Richmond on July 31, 2002 to discuss the proposed ALF regulations during the 60-day public comment period.  According to DSS, the guidance and direction provided by the ALF Advisory Committee will be considered in the development of the final regulations. 

VCAL representatives at the meeting expressed the concerns of members related to changes in the proposed regulations that were inconsistent with statutory requirements.  There was extensive discussion of the proposed replacement regulations among Advisory Committee members which resulted in a series of recommendations offered to DSS staff to resolve major issues related to the standards.  These focused primarily on the section related to special care units for residents with a serious cognitive impairment due to a primary psychiatric diagnosis of dementia.